Kate Connors

As this year comes to a close, I’ve been looking back at the work that carried me through 2025. These are some of the fun pieces I got to work on this year, and as fun as they were, they also hold the weight of a year that asked a lot of me.

2025 was a year of challenges, long days, hard lessons, and steady effort. A year of learning where I needed to learn, adjusting where things didn’t work, and continuing forward even when the path wasn’t clear. It was a year of showing up, refining my work, and striving to do better- for my clients, my craft, and myself.

One of the most meaningful parts of this year was my work with the Alliance of Professional Tattooists. I was elected to the Board of Directors, moved from Secretary to Chairman of Education, and later named Educational Director. This work matters deeply to me. Supporting education, safety, and thoughtful growth within our industry is something I’m proud to be part of, and I look forward to continuing to help the tattoo craft become stronger and better.

As I move into the new year, there’s a sense of clarity I didn’t have before. New projects are already taking shape, along with expanded education, deeper collaboration, and more fundraising efforts that matter to me. There’s more to build, more to give, and more ways to support the people and causes I care about.

Thank you to everyone who trusted me with their skin, their stories, and their time this year. I’m grateful for every conversation, every piece, and every step forward.

Here’s to what’s ahead.
Keep watching.
Happy New Year!

This was a fun piece to do! Thank you for the trust :)